LAMP : Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP Combination to Drive Websites

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LAMP is an acronym for the combined use of programs based on Linux to provide dynamic Web pages. The other components are Apache, MySQL, PHP. Sometimes P is not only for PHP but also for Python and / or Perl. Among these LAMP softwares, we have already published articles on Apache HTTP, there are lot of articles on MySQL has been published like very very popular post Indispensable MySQL queries for custom fields in WordPress with over 20 mentions in important webpages including some giants in Web Hosting. The last component of LAMP is PHP, you can read about PHP here. Also we have published a hands on article on how to Install WordPress on Rackspace Cloud Server, so basicaly we have completed the needed LAMP settings there by using a fantastic all in one command yum -y install httpd php mysql mysql-server php-mysql.

This LAMP combination is defined in terms of a software distribution infrastructure in the framework of dynamic websites and applications which can be developed. All components of LAMP (sometimes Linux can be paid component) are free Open Source software, like Red Hat Linux can be a Paid component of LAMP.

Components and functions of LAMP

LAMP stack is composed of the four components – Linux (operating system), Apache (Web server), MySQL ( database system ) and PHP (server-side script – scripting language). These components are reusable and usable in different settings and composition.

A request from the web first reaches the network card . The operating system determines which program is intended for processing. This is done using the port number that is included explicitly or implicitly in the request. Linux will forward the request to the Apache server. The request includes an address by which the web server can decide which file from the file system is to pick up. It retrieves the appropriate web server to the script interpreter, for example PHP. The script can in principle execute arbitrary instructions in the environment dynamically customized web pages but are often processed database contents. We need to call the script on the database system.
If the database content is obtained, processed and formatted in the script on the Web server connected to the other contents of the file system, the result is returned to the operating system that delivers on the network card.

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You can now understand, why if there is a wrong coding in PHP in some WordPress plugin, why it appears as an internal server error.

Variants of LAMP and usages of LAMP

The individual components of LAMP system can be replaced with similar components. Like the Operating System can be Windows , Mac OS , Solaris or other. The corresponding distributions are then called WAMP, MAMP or equivalent.

WordPress is an example of an application program intended to run on a LAMP environment. Quite obviously as the LAMP set up with WordPress yields dynamic pages, it becomes very server intensive work. That is why we use the WordPress Cache Plugins to make the load on LAMP server less and serve HTML pages without the PHP calls. However, the plugins itself increases the load on LAMP server. But, the benefit is of getting a faster loading website.